Politics

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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will announce the city's first poet laureate later this morning.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Alice Walton|December 7, 2012

Good morning, readers. Welcome to the Maven's Morning Coffee -- a listing of the important headlines, news conferences, public meetings and announcements you need to know to fuel up and tackle your day.

The city of Los Angeles has its first poet laureate: Eloise Klein Healy. "She writes lovingly of helicopters and bougainvillea, of strip malls and Santa Anas. Car thefts and stabbings are part of the backdrop. Freeways wind freely through her verse," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Despite threats of layoffs, the Los Angeles Police Department and Personnel Department both say they've found the $3 million needed to keep almost 100 employees in their jobs through the end of June, reports KPCC. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana advocated for the layoffs, noting the city is missing out on $55 million in anticipated revenues.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is upset that a surrogate for opponent Mike Feuer attacked him at a forum hosted by SEIU, reports the LA Weekly. "It seems the Feuer campaign is playing politics-as-usual even though Trutanich graciously decided to hold off on criticizing Feuer while Feuer remains hospitalized," a spokesman told the newspaper. The two men are running for city attorney.

KPCC looks at the first Vietnamese-American mayor, Tri Ta of Westminster. "I’m only a humble person, and I love to serve people," he told the station.

Emile Mack, a candidate for the Thirteenth District of the Los Angeles City Council, released a video on his life story. This is part one. Another candidate, John Choi, was endosed by IBEW Local 18.

Where to Find the Politicians

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will announce the city's poet laureate at 9 a.m. at the Central Library. At 10 a.m., he will speak at the Chabad of Downtown Chanukah Menorah lighting.

Town Hall Los Angeles will host a discussion on health care, "The New Medical Model: Putting You at Center," on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. Free tickets available here.